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Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Repurpose Necklaces into Stitch Markers

I did a post last week on making your own stitch markers. I start looking through my jewelry boxes to see if there are some necklaces I could use. I pulled out three and here's the result. TONS of stitch markers!

These are from the necklace on the far right. Just LOOK at all of them. From ONE necklace, mind you! About 25 stitch markers.

I already had a bunch of jewelry findings hidden away from my "make your own bracelets" stage. Jump rings (some small and some larger ones), lobster claw fasteners, lever back earring bits, spring fasteners and the like. You will also need some of these straight beading pins with a loop at the end. I really don't like using them as they are so fiddly, if you know what I mean. But, if your beads don't already come with little loops already on them, you have to use these. That's why I like using charms as they come with some type of loop.

These ones below already have little jump rings on them so all you have to do is add a larger one or a lobster claw clasp.

If you don't have any jewelry findings, they are readily available in WalMart, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, JoAnn Fabric and Hancock Fabrics.

They are so colorful and super easy to whip up. Every one I made fits up to a size 10 knitting needle and the ones with a spring clasp or lobster claw clasp can be used for your crochet projects as well.

You just take the necklace apart on a washcloth, so everything doesn't start rolling around everywhere....

and begin putting them together. Here's my little work station. You will need a pair of needle nose pliers. I used the ones that I had, but it would be a good investment to purchase a pair that is made for jewelry making. You need pliers that have a really tiny tip.

Here's what I got from the turquoise necklace.

I'm saving the tiny seed beads for something else.

These are from the necklace on the left.

Then I got out some row counters and made these from old beads I found in a craft box. I used the photo below for inspiration. Mine are not near as cute as this one from Heidi Bears.

I found another necklace and wound up with these....

and THEN, I got out these cute puzzle charms and made more! Aren't they sweet?

So there you have it. Now, what am I going to do with all of these? I'll keep some, gift some to my yarn buddies, sell them at our church bazaar, sell some in my etsy shop. I'll also have some in my purse and give them to knitters and crocheters I run into while shopping as that happens to me often.

When you break down the numbers, it only takes a minute to make and they only cost about one nickel each!

Thanks for stopping by,

Sheila

Purls of Wisdom:

Of course, you don't need a "real" stitch marker. I've used cut up bits of a drinking straw, small rubber bands, a small bit of yarn and even the ring off my finger! I've used a small barrette or safety pin to mark "the right side" of my work.

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The name and pattern line, Creative Designs by Sheila, was established by Sheila Zachariae. All rights reserved. Use of my photos is permitted if you add a link directly back to this blog. Please email me with any questions. Thank you. sheilazachariae@gmail.com